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THE INSIDER by Akorn Southeast Asia November 2018
Hello again from Akorn Southeast Asia. We are delighted to share another edition of THE INSIDER! We take you to experience the Vietnam’s coffee country and explore mindfulness in Thailand. We also reveal our Top 5 antique shops and galleries in Southeast Asia and meet an art expert and social entrepreneur who is weaving new opportunities in Laos.
Our Love Affair with Vietnamese Coffee!
You may have heard about Vietnam’s cultural diversity, captivating landscapes and charming cities, but what you may not know is that this dynamic Southeast Asian country is also one of the largest producers of coffee in the world, coming second only to Brazil. Discover the coffee capital of Vietnam in the remote highlands of Dak Lak province, just one hour by flight from Ho Chi Minh City. The region is ideal for growing Robusta beans due to its cool weather and fertile soil.
For an immersive cultural and coffee experience, we recommend staying a few nights at Lak Tented Camp overlooking central Vietnam’s largest freshwater lake, Lak Lake. Spend the days cycling through coffee plantations as well as cacao and cashew farms, returning to the camp's own coffee plantation to learn every step of the “bean to brew” process from nurturing and growing coffee plants to harvesting and separating the beans and finally preparing your cup of coffee using a Vietnamese filter.
“It is refreshing to wander through fields and small villages to discover a different way of life here,” our Vietnam Country Manager, Lan Nguyen said of a recent visit to the region, “It’s one of those places that simply captures your heart and you will never want to leave!”
Lak Tented camp offers comfortable tented accommodation and chic wooden bungalows built in the style of an ethnic Mnong home. The ideal time to visit is from November to March when the weather is mild and perfect for hiking, biking and other outdoor activities. The best views, however, are seen during the summer season from May to October when a little bit of rain makes the landscape lush and green.
Contact us to find out more about this destination and how to add Lak Lake to your next inspirational Vietnam journey.
A Journey to Mindfulness in Thailand
Traveling to Thailand can be a re-invigorating experience. Apart from alluring beaches, exotic food and traditional culture, the country offers plenty of opportunities to feed the mind, body and soul. Here are just a few of our favorite ways to foster personal and spiritual growth through mindfulness in Thailand, which can be included in any tailor-made program.
Consider a mindful secluded mountain retreat - For a true experience of mindful living, we recommend an extended stay at a holistic retreat such as the beautiful Phu Chaisai Mountain Resort. Located high in the mountains of Chiang Rai, the resort features private bamboo cottages tucked away in a secluded forest overlooking a lush, tropical valley and is the ideal place to nourish the mind, body and soul through yoga, massage or meditation practice.
Tune in the chakra through chanting – Lift your body’s energy, or chakra, and embrace the spirit of the moment while listening to the monks’ ritual chanting at a remote forest temple. The hypnotic rhythm fills the air with spiritual energy and overwhelms the senses with a feeling of peace and tranquility. Experience chanting at a meditation retreat, available at various locations around Chiang Mai and northern Thailand.
Learn the art of Thai massage - Discover the healing power of Thai massage with a qualified practitioner and practice ancient techniques that are believed to have been developed 2,500 years ago by a disciple of Buddha. Learn how to manipulate the energy lines throughout the body to improve flexibility and balance, enhance blood circulation and boost the immune system. Thai massage lessons can be arranged in various destinations including Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Cleanse the body with a raw food detox – Understand how to balance your yin and yang and improve physical and mental health through a nutritional diet of raw foods– in Thai-style! Rid the body of harmful chemicals and toxins and learn how to prepare clean, raw Thai-style dishes such as seaweed rolls, watermelon soup, banana flower salad and raw dragon fruit ice cream cake. This raw food experience is available in Bangkok with similar offerings in Chiang Mai and northern Thailand.
Contact us now to plan your tailor-made spiritual journey through Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Preserving Ancient Weaving Traditions with Today’s Sustainable Styles
We chat about life in Luang Prabang with Emi Weir, Co-founder and Managing Director of Ma Te Sai, a social enterprise and fair-trade organization that supports rural women in Laos through handicraft. Having lived in Laos for almost a decade, Emi has an intimate knowledge of life and art in Laos and shares some of her insights with us today.
Q: How long have you been living in Laos and what do you love most about living here?
A: February 2019 will mark 10 years for me in Luang Prabang. I came from Sydney after 20 years working in the travel and tourism sector. Since moving here, I’ve fallen in love with the Mekong and Namkhan rivers, the beauty, both natural and cultural, and the people who make me feel so welcome every day. It is a place that inspires creativity.
Q: As a long-term resident of the town, what are your recommendations on where to shop, eat and drink in Luang Prabang?
A: For shopping, I love all the traditional bamboo implements, such as fish traps, rice baskets, trays etc. There are several shops near Sofitel Luang Prabang and one across from the park on Naviengkham Road where I go to see what I can do with such things. For great snacks, I go to the end of the morning market where you can find local candy, banana chips and fried dark mushrooms which are great with beer Lao. For a nice meal, I often head to a family-run restaurant by the Mekong river and always order their duck larb (spicy minced duck salad), fried pork in bamboo with some river weed and jiao bong (a spicy jam-like dip). It’s a great place to take people for lunch with a view. As for drinks, any place along the Mekong is good for a sunset beer or a cocktail at 525 Cocktails & Tapas is always fun.
Q: You have traveled extensively in rural parts of Laos. Do you have a favorite place and why?
A: My favorite villages are Nyanyang South and Nyanyang North. These are two Taileu cotton weaving villages located 2.5 hours north of Luang Prabang. I have worked extensively with weavers and raised funds to train women to sew, so have spent a lot of time in these close-knit villages. The aesthetics of the old houses and the talent of this Taileu community is truly exquisite and unique.
Q: What inspired you to open your fair-trade shop?
A: I was seeing mass-produced goods from Vietnam, China and Thailand appearing at the night market in Luang Prabang, which were being presented as so-called local handicrafts. At the same time, there were many unique products in Laos, including members of Fair Trade Laos, who were not well represented. So I saw a gap in the market and I wanted to give a voice to the real artisans of Laos. I chose the name “Ma Te Sai”, which means “where is it from?” in Lao, because I often saw tourists ask this question at the night market only to be told that goods were from Laos, which they clearly were not.
Q: We love the products at Ma Te Sai. Can you explain a bit about how you source these products and what is involved in getting them into the shop?
A: Originally, we worked with a few NGOs that were developing products within communities and centers such as the Lao Disabled Women’s Development Center. As we grew, we began working more directly with the makers and were able to design our own products, reacting to feedback from the market. Now, we have items sent from all around the country and we send fabrics to be sewn from place to place, so logistics can be difficult - but we have not lost anything yet!
Q: How do you see the arts and craft scene in Laos developing in the future?
A: As Laos slowly becomes more modernized, it is difficult to say if people will still want to put in the hours required to create handcrafted products. For now, we are lucky that we still have younger artisans, so for the next decade or so, there is still opportunity for us to grow and develop a wider boutique market for these unique crafts.
Plan a private arts and textiles experiences with Emi, visiting artisanal villages and meeting master craftsmen of Luang Prabang. Contact us now to find out more!
Our Top 5: Favorite Places for Antiquing Across Southeast Asia
1. Yesterday Once More, Bangkok, Thailand
One of our favorite places in Bangkok to find that rare piece of old-world furniture is at Yesterday Once More. For over 30 years, the Mr Piao and his family have been painstakingly curating and restoring antique Chinese cabinets, tables, chairs and other decorative furnishings which are sourced from local homes in Thailand as well as Myanmar and China. Alongside original historical items, the shop also creates made-to-order reproductions, tailor-made to fit your home.
2. 54 Traditions Gallery, Hanoi, Vietnam
One of the few galleries in Vietnam to focus on antiques, artifacts and art sourced from Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups, 54 Traditions Gallery is curated by cultural expert, Dr. Mark Rapoport, who also accompanies Akorn guests on private visits to the Museum of Ethnology. The gallery always has over 1,000 artifacts on display, including tribal textiles, shamanic objects, water puppets and ancient tools, ceramics and jewelry. Each piece comes with a detailed story and all are available for purchase. Objects from the gallery have been acquired by many museums, including national collections, in Europe, Asia and North America.
3. Asiama Gallery, Luang Prabang, Laos
Those with an eye for antiques and rare collectibles will love perusing the offerings at Asiama Gallery. Located in a colonial style shop house in the center of town, the small studio of French photographer, Alain Menoni, showcases a range of antiques, textiles and objects d’art from across Asia, including India, China and Laos. This is the place to find rare hand-carved statuettes from Indonesia, a ceremonial bell from Nepal or an old religious amulet from Tibet.
4. Augustine’s, Yangon, Myanmar
Augustine's is a treasure trove of hidden wonders in Yangon, a fascinating collection of curios curated by Mr. Augustine and his son over 50 years. The small space is filled with cupboards, chests and drawers that are overflowing with historical trinkets as well as silverware, amulets, wood carvings, Burmese chests, traditional textiles and beautiful pieces of lacquerware decorated with intricate gold leaf. Take time to rummage through the piles of knick-knacks and you might just find something of rare or special interest.
5. Pathana Boupha Antique House, Luang Prabang, Laos
Located on the second floor of a French colonial mansion in the heart of Luang Prabang, Pathana Boupha Antique House is a well-established dealer of historical items and ethnic products from all over Laos. We love to spend time perusing the diverse collection where it is possible to pick up some interesting finds hidden in the nooks and crannies of the room, such as Buddha statues, silverware pots, Hmong jewelry and Akha-style bracelets as well as fine silk scarves.
These shops and galleries are personal recommendations and places we love to visit. However, Akorn does not take responsibility for the authenticity of items in each store. Guests are advised to obtain certification of antiques when making purchases.
More Insider News from Around the Region
• Bringing a new level of style and sophistication to Sapa town in Vietnam’s northern highlands, Hôtel de la Coupole - MGallery by Sofitel features the work of designer Bill Bensley and is set to open in December 2018.
• Thailand's Maya Bay remains closed until further notice as the marine life takes some much-needed time to rejuvenate. In the meantime, there are several other islands off the coast of Phuket that are equally stunning and just waiting to be explored.
• Bangkok Art Biennale kicked off at the end of October and we are loving it! Check out installations around the city, including the heritage building of the East Asiatic Company, until 3 February 2019.
• Aqua Mekong has extended their single traveler promotion, waiving the single supplement fee for all departures between 1 January to 29 March 2019.
• Angthong National Marine Park, off the coast of Koh Samui, is unavailable between 1 November and 15 December 2018 due to annual closure.
A word from our guests:
“The honeymoon was amazing. We really only have the best things to say about [the experience]… Chiang Mai was probably our favorite location of the whole trip… and we can't thank you enough for helping us plan this. [The trip] was phenomenal”.
- Danielle of the United States
For more information about anything you have seen in this newsletter, contact us now:
Thailand | Cambodia | Laos | Myanmar | Vietnam
Check out our archive for more Insider news, ideas and travel information:
THE INSIDER by Akorn Southeast Asia October 2018: An authentic farming and noodle-making experience in Laos, a private jet journey through Southeast Asia and our Top 5 must-do’s in Hue, Vietnam. Plus, we chat with Chef Ian Kittichai about Thai and Southeast Asian cuisine.
THE INSIDER by Akorn Southeast Asia August 2018: Meet ethical artisans in Cambodia, discover the Myeik archipelago, last minute getaways you cannot miss in 2018, our exclusive interview with a U.S. veteran in Vietnam, philanthropy update and more news from the region
THE INSIDER by Akorn Southeast Asia July 2018: Where to go during Southeast Asia’s Green Season, Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam, Favorite Eats, Cultural Festivals, an Insider Interview with the Founders of Laos Buffalo Dairy, plus News from the Region
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